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There are a few things you should know about moving to San Jose. First, it’s Silicon Valley’s biggest city (often called the Capital of Silicon Valley), and if you work in tech, there’s arguably no place better for you.
However, we know that even if you do opt to move that way, it’s not necessarily an overnight decision. After all, San Jose is a gigantic city. Where would you live?
To help out with the decision-making process, we’ve put together a handy guide of the best neighborhoods in San Jose. So, grab a coffee, and follow along for all the information you need. We’re here to help!
The best neighborhoods in San Jose
San Jose has 219 neighborhoods. That means that you have tons of options for places to live in San Jose, both family-friendly and quiet or vibrant and busy.
Whether you’re an introvert who appreciates a low-key style of living with great weather and all of the outdoor activities you could imagine or a young executive who wants to live right in the middle of the city, San Jose is likely the place for you.
Now, without further ado, let’s chat about some of the best neighborhoods in San Jose.
Best neighborhoods in San Jose for families
If you’re moving your family to San Jose, there are many neighborhoods that could work for you. These include but are not limited to Almaden Valley, Willow Glen, Evergreen, Blossom Valley, Cambrian Park, and Santa Teresa.
Below is more information about our top picks for family-friendly neighborhoods:
Almaden Valley
Want to know the top neighborhood for raising kids in San Jose? That would be Almaden Valley, a southern San Jose neighborhood found in the middle of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Santa Teresa Hills. This neighborhood is the dream of every walker and hiker, as it boasts the famous Almaden Quicksilver County Park, which contains more than 4,000 acres of land.
Almaden Valley scores highly in nearly all areas families deem important, including general family-friendliness, diversity, nightlife, and of course, education. Public schools in the area include Almaden Country Day School, Leland High School, Holy Spirit School, and Castillero Middle School. Private schools include Bellarmine College Preparatory and Archbishop Mitty High School–to name a few.
As for crime, the neighborhood is lower than the national average in total crime (by 16%), violent crime (by 44%), and property crime rates (by 10%). That should give you peace of mind about your safety if you choose to move there.
Approximately 55,187 people live in Almaden Valley now, with the majority of people owning their homes. The median home value is $1,295,496, which is helpful to know if you’re thinking about purchasing a home. If you want to test the waters first, though, you can find a place for a median rent of $2,951 per month.
Willow Glen
Families from all over move to Willow Glen (AKA “San Jose’s Local Treasure”) to enjoy the small-town feel with upscale amenities, such as shopping and some of the best restaurants you’ll ever have the pleasure of visiting. (You must try the short rib stroganoff at Braise Willow Glen over on Lincoln Avenue. It’s delicious!)
The neighborhood itself (which is one of the safest neighborhoods in San Jose, by the way) is highly rated for family-friendliness, diversity, schools, and nightlife. Roughly 78,587 live in Willow Glen, enjoying the city’s many amenities, festivals, renowned downtown, and scenery. (There are trees everywhere you look!)
The Victorian-style homes and bungalows in the area are also sights you won’t want to miss, and hey, maybe you’ll get inspired to move into one of your own! (If you plan to buy a home, the median home value is $1,010,036. Willow Glen’s median rent is $2,118 per month.)
Some of the public schools in Willow Glen include Willow Glen High School, Willow Glen Elementary School, and Blackford Elementary School. Nearby private schools include Pinewood School – Upper Campus, Bellarmine College Preparatory, and Notre Dame High School.
Evergreen
Make the drive to East San Jose toward the East Foothills, and you’ll come across Evergreen, a stunning neighborhood fit for families of all sizes. If you enjoy shopping, reserve your Saturdays for the Eastridge Mall, or maybe golfing is more your thing. If so, The Ranch Golf Club is perfect for you.
Maybe you want a casual, easygoing family outing. In that case, Evergreen has multiple parks you can drop by (Joseph D. Grant County Park, Groesbeck Hill Park, etc.). Oh, and we can’t forget the beautiful Evergreen Village Square, one of the best places to shop and meet with other members of the community.
Roughly 77,495 people live in Evergreen. The median home value over there is $941,494, and you can expect to pay a median rent of $2,811. As a neighborhood with an exciting nightlife, diversity, and great schools, it gets an A in our book.
While we’re on the topic of schools, you have multiple to choose from in Evergreen. If you want to go the public school route, you can get your kids set up at Evergreen Valley High School, Evergreen Elementary School, or Matsumoto Elementary School, for instance. On the private school side, you can select from BASIS Independent Silicon Valley, Bellarmine College Preparatory, and a handful of other options.
Best neighborhoods in San Jose for young professionals and singles
San Jose is one of those cities that has neighborhoods for everyone. If you’re young and moving up in the workforce, or single and ready to meet new people, consider Downtown San Jose, West San Jose, Japantown, Campbell, Burbank, Evergreen, Los Gato, or Cupertino.
Here’s an inside look at two of the best of the best neighborhoods for young professionals, singles, and millennials:
Downtown San Jose
Young professionals, such as those in tech, thrive in Downtown San Jose. The same goes for singles. Why? Well, for one, Downtown San Jose is where all the action happens. There are 88,128 people living in Downtown San Jose right now, which gives you plenty of options to meet people.
You can go enjoy a Sharks game, explore all things science and engineering at The Tech Interactive, or catch live music at a venue Downtown. You’ll also be within walking distance of many bars, restaurants, parks, and so forth.
Another benefit of living Downtown is being near work. Often, if you work Downtown and don’t have kids, you may find it worth it to live Downtown to cut down on your commute time. Of course, if you do need to commute for work, you have the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), ride-sharing options, and the Mineta San Jose International Airport, which is a mere two miles away.
If you’re curious about housing costs in Downtown San Jose, know that the median home value in this area is $744,134. The median rent is $1,962. Whether you choose to buy a home or rent (which is what most people do Downtown), the right salary can help.
West San Jose
You might know West San Jose as the location for the Winchester Mystery House, Calabazas Park, and the Westgate Center. Now, did you know that, like Almaden Valley, West San Jose also has a #1 spot? Yep. It’s the #1 “best neighborhood to live in” for those in the San Jose area.
Approximately 127,557 call West San Jose home, with about a 50/50 mix of renters and homeowners. You can get a home for a median home value of $1,280,056 or find a nice rental for a median rate of $2,468 per month.
Regarding West San Jose, one resident says, “I love this area. It is close to everything I need. Lots of restaurants, grocery stores, department stores, banks, parks, gas stations and the mall. This is a safe neighborhood, where I can walk my dog and exercise outdoors. I am also close to the gym.”
West San Jose is a prime location for young professionals and singles because of those perks above, as well as the vibrant nightlife and close proximity to I-280, allowing you to get to Downtown San Jose or other parts of California with no problem at all. If you would like to meet people in San Jose, West San Jose is the place to do it.
Get help moving to San Jose
The best neighborhoods in San Jose might vary based on where you are in your life. However, the best movers for the job are the same. Bellhop has the expertise needed to help you coordinate your local moves or long-distance move to San Jose and nearby cities like San Francisco from start to finish. If you need loading, unloading, or delivery assistance, we’ve got your back. Book a move online now.
Need to move last minute? Bellhop can help you with that as well!
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